Ezra 9:6

A brief exordium: expression of personal shame and national guilt.

I am ashamed and blush These words occur together frequently as in Jeremiah 31:19 -I was ashamed, yea, even confounded, because I did bear the reproach of my youth". Isaiah 45:16; Psalms 35:4. Ezra's expression of shame and confusion is the echo of the prophet's words, -Beashamed and confounded for your ways, O house of Israel" (Ezekiel 36:32), the very opposite of their spirit, who -were not at all ashamed, neither could they blush" (Jeremiah 6:15; Jeremiah 8:12).

to lift up my face to thee The consciousness of sin will not permit the humble supplicant to -lift up so much as his eyes to heaven" (Luke 18:13). The first person singular is here dropped.

for our iniquities are increased over our head The metaphor is drawn from the waters of a flood (cf. Genesis 7:17-18). Compare Psalms 38:4 -For mine iniquities are gone over mine head".

and our trespass R.V. our guiltiness. The word -guiltiness" (-ashmah", not -ma-al" -trespass" of Ezra 9:1) is used here and in Ezra 9:7; Ezra 9:13; Ezra 9:15; Ezra 10:10; Ezra 10:19. It is the state of guilt resulting from sin, e.g. Leviticus 4:3, -if the anointed priest shall sin so as to bring guilt (ashmah) on the people"; Ezra 6:5; Ezra 6:7; 2 Chronicles 28:13 -For ye purpose that which will bring upon us a trespass(marg. -guilt", Hebr. -ashmah") against the Lord, to add unto our sins and to our trespass; for our trespassis great", 2Ch 24:18, 2 Chronicles 28:10; 2 Chronicles 33:23; Amos 8:14 -Swear by the sin (ashmah) of Samaria". Psalms 69:5 -My sins (marg. Heb. guiltinesses) are not hid from thee".

is grown up unto the heavens Compare the same metaphor applied to -rage", 2 Chronicles 28:9 -In a rage which hath reached up unto heaven". Either, which is most probable, hyperbolically of magnitude, as of the tower of Babel, -whose top may reach unto heaven" (Genesis 11:4), cities walled up to heaven (Deuteronomy 1:28), the judgement of Babylon (Jeremiah 51:9), or metaphorically, as if the magnitude of the guilt had forced itself upon the notice of God like the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 18:20-21).